You are both right. The basic drum should sound great without playing in per se - and the playing in should improve the tone.

With both my RWE (which I love even more every time I play), and my Brendan White the 'playing in' for me improves the subtly of the tone - I see this playing in as nothing different from strings. The two drums have a good basic tones (albeit very different) straight out of the box - just as good quality strings on a quality instrument do.

I do agree that the concept of playing in to make something sound even halfway decent is a travesty.

Sorry for mis-understanding - it looks like we agree!!